Shildon AFC have reached the Northern Premier League East playoffs in their first ever season at Step 4 of non-league.
The Railwaymen comfortably dispatched third-place Cleethorpes Town by 3-0 on Saturday to mathematically secure their playoff place.
A first half Sam Barker goal was added to early in the second half when Dean Thexton converted from the penalty spot.
A third from Billy Greulich-Smith in the 77th minute ensured the Shildon fans could begin their celebrations in earnest well before the full-time whistle.
The final positions of the top five sides will determine Shildon’s opposition in the playoff semi-final, with second playing fifth and third playing fourth while the top side is automatically promoted.
To that end, the Railwaymen were unable to capitalise on other results at the weekend and in midweek when they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Yorkshire Amateur on Tuesday night.
With Stockton Town losing to Worksop on Saturday and dropping two more points on Tuesday evening, victory in their own midweek fixture would have seen them leapfrog Stockton into fourth place ahead of the final match of the season this weekend.
Shildon will finish off their successful first league campaign at Step 4 with a home tie against Frickley Athletic at 3pm this Saturday, 23 April, and victory could still see them gain a place in the table if Stockton fail to win at sixth place Brighouse Town.
If they finish in fifth position, Shildon will play Marske United, unless Liversedge lose and Marske win while miraculously catching up a 14-goal difference.
Finishing fourth would mean another encounter with Cleethorpes, whom they have now beaten three times this season, including a 2-0 win in the FA Trophy.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
